INBA legend LeBron James says he’s not feeling tired ahead of his age-39 season.
The Los Angeles Lakers forward made his professional debut in 2003, but 20 years later, he said he still feels physically fit enough to compete.
James averaged 28.9 points, 8.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists in 55 games in the 2022/23 season and was selected to the All-Star for the 19th time, proving that he is still as lethal as ever.
In a video posted on social media, the four-time champion assured that no one had the wrong impression about his ability to continue competing.
James is known for investing a lot of time and money into taking care of his body, and he was pictured training hard ahead of the next season, which starts in October.
“It doesn’t make any sense,” the 38-year-old said. “Tiredness only exists in the mind. You tell yourself you are tired, and you will get tired. I am not tired.”
Lakers look to return to form
James enters his fifth season with the Lakers and hopes to lead the Lakers back to playoff glory after a disappointing 2020.
After beating the Miami Heat in the COVID-19 season, the Lakers ranked seventh, 11th (all absent), and will be seventh again in 2022-23.
The Lakers qualified for the playoffs and eliminated the Memphis Grizzlies in six games, then eliminated the Golden State Warriors in six games before being swept by the Denver Nuggets in the conference finals.
The storied Los Angeles franchise is looking to take a step closer to the NBA Finals in the 2023-24 season after acquiring Gabe Vincent from the Heat on an $11 million per year contract.